Power control apparatus of a foldable portable mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

A power control apparatus in a foldable portable radio terminal which includes a main body, a sub-body, a key-pad including a power key on the main body, an external function key which can be key-input by a user even if the sub-body is shut on the main body is disclosed. The power control apparatus includes a first switch, a second switch, and a control unit for controlling the first and second switch according to powered-on/off state of the terminal. One end of each of the first and second switch is connected in common at a first node connected to the external function key and the other end of the first switch is connected to a first input end of the control unit, and the other end of the second switch and the power key are connected in common via a second node connected to a second input end of the control unit. According to the invention, the external function key (the automatic folder switch for example) as the power key is realized so that the user can power-on the terminal without opening the sub-body even in the powered-off state of the terminal, and the terminal keys can perform their own functions in the powered-off state of the terminal.

PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority to an application entitled“POWER CONTROL APPARATUS OF FOLDED PORTABLE MOBILE TERMINAL” filed withthe Korean Industrial Property Office on Oct. 31, 2000 and assignedSerial No. 2000-64192, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a portable mobileterminal, and more particularly, to a power control apparatus of afoldable portable mobile terminal.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In general, portable mobile terminals are classified into bartype terminals and foldable terminals. While the bar type terminal isgradually decreasing in use since the key-pad of the terminal is exposedfrom the body of the terminal, the foldable terminal is currently beingdeveloped in various shapes due to the sub-body of the terminalopening/closing in respect to the main body of the terminal to protectthe key-pad of the terminal.

[0006] The foldable terminals are usually classified into flip typeterminals, flip-up type terminals and folder type terminals. The fliptype terminal has a flip cover for protecting the key-pad on the mainbody and collecting a transmitting sound. The flip cover functions as asub-body. The flip-up type terminal has a flip cover that opens towardthe upper side of the main body. The folder type terminal has an LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) module on a the sub-body thereof.

[0007] The foldable terminal has a key for powering on/off the terminal(hereinafter will be referred to as “power key”) in the key-pad on themain body. The key can be covered by the sub-body. Therefore, in orderto power on/off the foldable terminal, a user should open the sub-bodyclosed onto the main body. Then, the user can power on/off the terminalby using the power key.

[0008] As described above, the sub-body must be opened for thepowering-on/off of the foldable terminal. Therefore, it may beconvenient for the user if the terminal can be powered on/off with thesub-body remaining closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide apower control apparatus in a foldable portable radio terminal allowingthe terminal to be powered on/off with the sub-body of the terminalbeing closed.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a powercontrol apparatus in a foldable portable radio terminal comprising anexternal function key which can be used as a power key.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a powercontrol apparatus in a foldable portable radio terminal comprising anautomatic folder key which can also be used as a power key.

[0012] To achieve the above objects of the invention, a power controlapparatus in a foldable portable radio terminal comprising a main body,a sub-body, a key-pad including a power key on the main body, and anexternal function key which can be key-input by a user even if thesub-body is closed onto the main body. The power control apparatuscomprises a first switch, a second switch, and a control unit forcontrolling the first and second switches according to powered-on/offstate of the terminal. One end of each of the first and second switch isconnected in common via a first node connected to the external functionkey. The other end of the first switch is connected to first input endof the control unit, and the other end of the second switch and thepower key are connected in common via a second node connected to asecond input end of the control unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0014]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a portable radio terminal havinga sub-body closed onto a main body according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0015]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the portable radio terminalhaving the sub-body opened from the main body according to an embodimentof the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the portable radio terminal accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the portable radioterminal which can be folded both in an automatic and a manual manneraccording to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0018]FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a power supply control circuitshown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Hereinafter preferred embodiments of the present invention willbe described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Itshould be understood that like elements in the drawings are referred toby like numerals over the entire application. Also, in the followingdescription, well-known functions or constructions are not described indetail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

[0020] The present invention is applicable to a portable terminal inwhich a sub-body can be opened from or closed onto a main body in anautomatic and manual opening/closing manner according to the convenienceof a user. Also, the invention can be applied to a portable terminal inwhich a sub-body can be used for only either an automatic or a manualopening/closing. While the embodiments of the invention are describedabout a opening/closing mechanism applied to a folder type portableterminal, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that theopening/closing mechanism of the invention can easily be applied toanother type of foldable portable terminal.

[0021]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a foldable portable radioterminal 100 according to an embodiment of the invention in which asub-body 120 is closed onto a main body 110. FIG. 1B is a perspectiveview of the portable radio terminal 100 in which the sub-body 120 isopened from the main body 110.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the portable radio terminal 100 iscomprises the main body 110 having an upper casing frame 111 and a lowercasing frame 112, and the sub-body 120 for protecting a key-pad and soon. On one side of the main body 110, a opening/closing mechanism 10 isprovided to open/close the sub-body automatically or manually accordingto opening/closing control of the user. An antenna unit 130 is providedon one side of the upper most end of the main body 110. An ear piece 140is provided on a portion of the sub-body 120 connected to the main body110, and an LCD module 150 as a display unit is placed under the earpiece 140. A key-pad 160 and a microphone unit 170 are placed on themain body 110. The key-pad 160 includes a power key 190 as shown in FIG.1B. An automatic folder switch 180 is provided on one side of the mainbody 110 to automatically open/close the sub-body from/onto the mainbody 110. When the user uses the automatic folder switch 180 forautomatic opening/closing or performs a manual opening/closing, thesub-body 120 is opened/closed from/onto the main body by theopening/closing mechanism.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the portable radio terminal 100according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2, thecontrol unit 200 performs the overall control of the portable radioterminal 100. A radio processing unit 202 controlstransmission/reception of audio and control data under the control ofthe control unit 200. An audio processing unit 204 converts audio datareceived from the radio processing unit 202 into audible sound which isoutputted via a speaker SPK, and processes an audio signal received viaa microphone MIC into data which is output to the radio processing unit202 under the control of the control unit 200. A key input unit 206includes a plurality of number keys and function keys in the key-pad,the automatic folder switch 180 on one side of the main body 110 asshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and outputs data corresponding to keys pressedby the user to the control unit 200. The display unit 208 corresponds toLCD 150 and displays a number of messages and images under the controlof the control unit 200. The memory unit 230 includes a program memoryfor storing program data necessary for controlling the operation of theportable mobile terminal, and a data memory for storing data generatedduring control or performance by the user.

[0024] A circuit block in FIG. 2 includes a motor driving unit 232, asub-body opening/closing motor 234, a sub-body open sensor 236 and asub-body closed sensor 238. The motor driving unit 232 operates so thatthe sub-body opening/closing motor 234 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise under the control of the control unit 200. The open sensor 236detects that the sub-body 120 is completely opened from the main body110, and the closed sensor 238 detects that the sub-body 120 iscompletely closed on the main body 110. The open sensor 236 and theclosed sensor 238 can be realized, for example, as hall sensors havinghall elements and magnets. If the open sensor 236 and the closed sensor238 are realized as the hall sensors, positions of the hall elements andthe magnets in the open sensor 236 and the shut sensor 238 will bedescribed in reference to FIG. 1B as follows.

[0025] In the open sensor 236 including a magnet 236 a and a hallelement 236 b, the magnet 236 a is arranged on a hinge of theopening/closing mechanism 10 and the hall element 236 b is arranged onthe upper most side of the main body 110 as shown in FIG. 1B. When thesub-body 120 is completely opened by the opening/closing mechanism 10,the hall element 236 b and the magnet 236 a of the open sensor 236 arein contact with each other and thus the open sensor 236 outputs adetection signal of sub-body opening complete to the control unit 200.In the closed sensor 238 including the magnet 238 a and the hall sensor238 b, the magnet 238 a is arranged above the ear piece 140 in thesub-body and the hall element 238 b is arranged on the lower most sideof the main body 110 as shown in FIG. 1B. When the sub-body 120 iscompletely closed by the opening/closing mechanism 10, the hall element238 b and the magnet 238 a of the closed sensor 238 contact each other,and thus the closed sensor 238 outputs a detection signal of sub-bodyclosing complete to the control unit 200. When the user of the portablemobile terminal 100 uses the automatic folder switch 180 to perform asub-body automatic opening/closing control, the control unit 200controls the operation of the motor driving unit 232 of theopening/closing mechanism 10 to automatically open/close the sub-body120 upon recognizing the opening/closing control. The sub-bodyopening/closing motor 234 rotates clockwise or counter clockwiseaccording to the operation control of the motor driving unit 232 so thatthe sub-body 120 can be opened or closed.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the invention, a power controlapparatus in which the user can power on/off the terminal by usingeither the automatic folder switch 180 arranged in the side of the mainbody 110 or the power key 190 in the key pad on the main body 110 isprovided. Therefore, the user can power on/off the terminal withoutopening the sub-body 120. Also, when the terminal is powered on, theautomatic folder switch 180 or the power key 190 can perform their owncharacteristic key functions.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the power control apparatus in theportable radio terminal which can be folded in an automatic and manualmanner according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 illustrates adetailed circuit structure of the control unit 200 and a power supplycontrol circuit 306 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0028] The automatic folder switch 180 in FIG. 3 is the automatic folderswitch 180 arranged in the side of the main body 110 as shown in FIG. 1Aand 1B. The power key 190 in FIG. 3 is the power key 190 on the key-pad160 on the main body as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0029] The power control apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention includes the automatic power switch 180, the power key190, a first switch SWC1 300, a second switch SWC2 302 and the powersupply control circuit 306 as shown in FIG. 3. The power controlapparatus also includes the control unit 200 shown in FIG. 2. The firstand second switches 300 and 302 in FIG. 3 are switched under the controlof the control unit 200 in FIG. 2. The control unit 200 controls theswitching of the first and second switches 300 and 302 according topower on/off states of the terminal 100.

[0030] The automatic folder switch 180 and the power key 190 areconnected to a battery power V_(bat). The automatic folder switch 180 isconnected in common to the first and second switches 300 and 302 at oneof the ends thereof at a node N1. The other end of the first switch 300is connected to a first input end of the control unit 200. The firstinput end of the control unit 200 is applied a sub-body opening/closingcontrol signal. The power key 190 is connected in common to a secondinput end of the control unit 200 and the other end of the second switch302 at node N2. The second input end of the control unit 200 is appliedwith a power control signal PWC.

[0031] The power supply control circuit 306 in FIG. 3 is a circuit forcontrolling the supply and interruption of the battery power V_(bat) tothe control unit 200 and each circuit portion according to switchingon/off the power key 190 by the user. The power supply control circuit306 in FIG. 3 includes a P channel field effect transistor 310 and anNPN transistor 312.

[0032] Hereinafter, the operation according to an embodiment of theinvention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1A to FIG.4.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200controls the first switch 300 open and the second switch 302 closed inthe powered-off state of the terminal 100. Accordingly, the user canpower on the terminal 100 by using either the automatic folder switch180 or the power key 190 in the powered-off state. Also, the controlunit 200 controls the first switch 300 closed and the second switch 302open in the powered-on state of the terminal 100. Accordingly, theautomatic folder switch and the power key 190 can perform their ownfunctions.

[0034] First, the operation according to an embodiment of the inventionin the powered-off state of the terminal 100 will be described. When theuser powers off the terminal 100, the control unit 200 controls thefirst switch 300 open and the second switch closed by using a switchcontrol signal SWC. Therefore, the first switch 300 is closed and thesecond switch 302 is open in the powered-on state of the terminal. Inthis powered-off state of the terminal, when the user opens the sub-body120 to press the power key 190 or presses the automatic folder switch180 in the side of the main body 110 without opening the sub-body 120,the power control signal PWC in a logic “high” state is applied to thepower supply control circuit 306 via a line 304 and also to the controlunit 200 via the node N2 as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, pressingthe automatic folder switch 180 applies the power control signal PWC inthe logic “high” state to the control unit 200 via the second switch 302in the closed state and the node N2, and pressing the power key 190applies the power control signal PWC in the logic “high” state to thecontrol unit 200 via the node N2.

[0035] When the power control signal PWC in the logic “high” state isapplied to the power supply control circuit 306, the NPN transistor 312of the power supply control circuit 306 is turned on and thus the Pchannel field effect transistor 310 is turned on also. As the fieldeffect transistor 310 is turned on, the battery power V_(bat) issupplied to the control unit 200 as a DC power V_(dc). As the DC powerV_(dc) is supplied, the control unit 200 is activated. In the activatedstate, as the user presses the power key 190 or the automatic folderswitch 180, the control unit 200 detects the power control signal PWC inthe logic “high” state which is applied via the node N2 in FIG. 3, anddetermines if the power control signal PWC is continuously applied for acertain time, for example, 3 to 4 seconds. If the power control signalPWC is continuously applied for a certain time, the control unit 200applies a V_(dc-holder) signal in logic “high” state to a base of theNPN transistor 312 so that the P channel field effect transistor 310 maybe continuously turned on. Accordingly, the power V_(bat) iscontinuously supplied to the control unit 200 as the DC power V_(dc)even if the user stops pressing the power key. The control unit 200 willcontrol each of circuits to be supplied with the battery power V_(bat).

[0036] Next, the operation according to an embodiment of the inventionin the powered-on state of the terminal 100 will be described. In thepowered-on state of the terminal 100, the control unit 200 controls thefirst switch 300 closed and the second switch 302 open by using theswitch control signal SWC. Accordingly, if the user presses theautomatic folder switch 180 in the powered-on state of the terminal 100,a sub-body opening/closing signal is applied to the control unit 200 viathe node N1 and the first switch 300. Also, if the user presses thepower key 190 in the powered-on state of the terminal, the power controlsignal PWC is applied to the control unit 200 via the node N2. In otherwords, the automatic folder switch 180 and the power key 190 performtheir own functions in the powered-on state of the terminal 100.

[0037] According to the present invention as described above, theexternal function key (the automatic folder switch 180 for example) asthe power key is realized so that the user can power on without openingthe sub-body even in the powered-off state of the terminal. Also, thereis an advantage that the terminal keys can perform their own functionsin the powered-off state of the terminal.

[0038] While the embodiment of the present invention has been describedwhile using the automatic folder switch 180 arranged at the outside ofthe terminal 100 as an example, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the spirit can be applied to other function keys performingother functions. Also, while the embodiment of the invention is appliedto the foldable portable radio terminal, it can be applied even to a bartype terminal. A number of variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is notdefined by the foregoing embodiment of the invention, but should bedefined by claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power control apparatus in a foldable portableradio terminal which includes a main body, a sub-body, a key-padincluding a power key on the main body, an external function key whichcan be key-inputted by a user even if the sub-body is closed onto themain body, said power control apparatus comprising: a first switch; asecond switch; and a control unit for controlling said first and secondswitches according to a powered-on/off state of the terminal; whereinone end of each of said first switch and said second switch is connectedin common at a first node connected to the external function key and theother end of said first switch is connected to a first input end of saidcontrol unit, and the other end of said second switch and the power keyare connected in common via a second node connected to a second inputend of said control unit.
 2. A power control apparatus in a foldableportable radio terminal according to claim 1, wherein said control unitcontrols said first switch open and said second switch closed in thepowered-off state of the terminal; and controls said first switch closedand said second switch open in the powered-on state of the terminal. 3.A power control apparatus in a portable radio terminal which can befolded in an automatic and manual manner and includes a main body, asub-body, a key-pad including a power key on the main body, and anautomatic sub-body switch for automatic sub-body opening/closing in aposition where a user can key-input even if the sub-body is closed ontothe main body, said power control apparatus comprising: a first switch;a second switch; and a control unit for controlling said first andsecond switches according to a powered-on/off state of the terminal;wherein one end of each of said first switch and said second switch isconnected in common at a first node connected to the automatic sub-bodyswitch and the other end of said first switch is connected to a firstinput end of said control unit, and the other end of said second switchand the power key are connected in common at a second node connected toa second input end of said control unit.
 4. A power control apparatus ina portable radio terminal according to claim 3, wherein said controlunit controls said first switch open and said second switch closed inthe powered-off state of the terminal; and controls said first switchclosed and said second switch open in the powered-on state of theterminal.
 5. A power control apparatus in a portable radio terminal,comprising: an external function key located in an accessible key inputposition by a user; a power key for controlling power; and a unit forcontrolling the portable radio terminal to be powered on in response toa key input from either said external function key or said power keywhen the portable radio terminal is powered-off and controlling afunction of the portable radio terminal to be performed in response to akey input from either said external function key or said power key whenthe portable radio terminal is powered-on.